Toronto Metropolitan University consolidates DMZ and RFI to better serve and support start-ups

TORONTO, May 22, 2020 – Today, Toronto Metropolitan University announced the consolidation of the DMZ and Ryerson Futures Inc. (RFI). This move will further enhance and streamline services and support for high-potential, tech startups. The Executive Director of the DMZ, Abdullah Snobar, will begin providing oversight of Ryerson Futures Inc. (RFI) as its new CEO. As part of this consolidation, RFI will be rebranded DMZ Ventures (DMZV).

“Today’s announcement is great news for students and start-ups interested in building their business and creating an impact in Canada’s innovation economy,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi and a member of the Board of Directors of DMZV. “With these changes, Ryerson becomes one of the only universities in Canada that can offer companies the full spectrum of support at every stage from ideation to actively participating in the economy. This move will help entrepreneurs scale companies that change lives and create more made-in-Canada careers.”

Toronto Metropolitan University continues to adapt to changes in the current environment and is committed to providing an ecosystem that will help entrepreneurs build successful businesses. Under this new structure, the DMZ will continue to operate as the premier program in Canada for supporting start-ups and the innovation economy. Startups that were part of the RFI will have access to DMZ’s world-renowned mentors with expertise in product marketing to talent strategy (among many other topics), access to a 300+ venture capital network, timely workshops headed by Canadian industry leaders and more.

“If COVID-19 has taught us anything about supporting startups within the Ryerson Zone network, it’s that we need to continue to be innovative and consolidate our efforts in order to help more entrepreneurs continue to run and grow their business,” said Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of the DMZ.

The DMZ, which launched at Ryerson in 2010, is a top-ranked incubator-accelerator and is known for best in class programming and partnerships with Canadian and multinational corporations and organizations.

Media contact
DMZ
Emily Collins
e1collins@torontomu.ca

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About the DMZ
We help companies grow their business. When founders want a high-impact and highly-customized tech accelerator and incubator program, they come to the DMZ. Ranked as the #1 university-based tech accelerator in the world, the DMZ provides a launchpad for founders to build and scale fast. Bigger and bolder than any other program of its kind, the DMZ has been fueling the next gen of game-changing, global businesses since 2010. To date, the DMZ has helped more than 400 startups raise $740+ million in capital and create 4,000+ jobs. With its headquarters in Toronto, Canada, the DMZ has a widely-recognized international presence with offices in New York City and 70 partnerships around the world. Learn more at www.torontomu.ca/dmz.